E-Newsletter, November 14, 2008
HUNTER BILLS TO HELP PREVENT CIGARETTE CAUSED FIRES WIN SENATE APPROVAL
Now that the Senate has passed my bills requiring cigarette manufacturers to meet certain fire-safety standards, I look forward to quick approval by the House of Representatives. Approval of this legislation will help us in the fight to prevent fires caused by burning cigarettes. Senate Bills 1620 and 1621 would require testing the fire-safety of tobacco products sold in Michigan. Currently, 37 other states have fire-safe tobacco laws. The purpose of these laws is to decrease cigarette-related fires by requiring that cigarettes be designed to not stay lit if they are not being drawn upon. The legislation creates a fine of not more than $100 per pack if a manufacturer, wholesaler dealer or agent sells or offers to sell cigarettes in violation of this requirement. Any fines collected would be deposited into The Cigarette Fire Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act Fund that would be created in the Michigan Department of Treasury. This money may only be used to support fire safety and prevention programs.
The U.S. Fire Administration, within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, says that at least 1,000 smokers and non-smokers die every year in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. Of that number, one in four who died in home fires were not the smoker whose cigarette caused the fire, and one third of those who died were children. The administration encourages smokers to use slow burn cigarettes.
NOVEMBER IS LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Michigan. Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer and, according to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing 38,000 to 65,000 nonsmokers every year. A study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley found that food service workers are 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than the general public because of their exposure to secondhand smoke at work.
I have been working in the Senate to make public bars, restaurants and workplaces smokefree. The House of Representatives recently voted on House Bill 4163, a bill to make all workplaces, including bars, restaurants, and casinos, smokefree. Although the bill did not pass, there was a motion to reconsider the bill and it is possible the bill will be taken up again soon.
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR 90 DAY FORECLOSURE MORATORIUM
Governor Jennifer Granholm recently called for legislation creating a 90-day freeze on foreclosures. The governor wants legislation to allow banking and insurance regulators to call for this moratorium. This would give homeowners facing foreclosure time to work out a new financing agreement with their lenders, and help them stay in their homes.
Recently, my colleagues and I introduced a three-bill package that would establish the longest period of foreclosure protection of any state in the country, while also providing important safeguards for the lending industry. During the two-year moratorium period, the property owner is still required to pay, but can make reduced payments while working to stabilize their financial situation. This protects lenders who would not receive any payment otherwise, and keeps citizens in their homes, preventing home vacancy and vandalism and stopping property values from dropping further. Also, Senator Clarke recently introduced SB 1644, which would call for a 90-day notice to tenants living in properties that have gone into foreclosure.
HUNTER BILL PREVENTING DEED FRAUD GOES TO THE HOUSE FOR APPROVAL
My bill to close a loophole that allows for con artists to run mortgage scams has been voted out of the House committee on Local, Urban, and State Affairs and is nearing final approval in the House. Senate Bill 927 will improve the process by which County Register of Deeds offices log deed information. Currently, they have to physically log information into an entry book. This method, and the volume of deeds coming into these offices, has created loopholes for con-artists, and backlogs for officials. Wayne County at one time had a four to six month backlog of deeds. This helped to facilitate mortgage scams, which have grown from 9 cases in 1997 to 1,431 in 2006. Under the current system, home titles can change hands illegally and multiple times before ever being caught by the system. This has caused great financial difficulties for both homeowners and lenders.
My legislation, SB 927, would modernize and standardize this process. When a deed is brought to the Register’s Office, the deed will be instantly stamped with the date, hour, and minute to ensure they are addressed in a timely fashion. The deed will also be accessible for public view. This will streamline the deed entry process and create a more responsive and effective environment for the sale and purchase of homes while also deterring mortgage con-artists.
2009 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION TICKET REQUESTS
A massive number of requests have come to our office regarding the 2009 Presidential Inauguration tickets. Many constituents have been told to contact their State Senator in order to receive these tickets; however, Senator Hunter is not receiving an allotment of tickets. Senator Hunter is suggesting that constituents submit their request for tickets to U.S. Senator Carl Levin's website at www.levin.senate.gov, or U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow’s website at www.stabenow.senate.gov.
DELEG NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM BUILDERS TO BUILD ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES
The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth is now accepting applications from builders for grants of up to $5,000 each to build energy-efficient houses. DELEG will be awarding five federally-funded grants in the Energy Star Home Grants for Builders program as an incentive for Michigan builders to utilize the latest technology to reduce energy costs and pollution.
Applications can be obtained at the DELEG Energy Office web site at www.michigan.gov/energyoffice or by contacting Pat Hudson, Residential Programs, at (517) 241-6154 or via e-mail at hudsonp1@michigan.gov. The deadline for the 2009 grants is Monday, December 15, 2008.
Please visit the DELEG website to find tips about saving energy and dollars, a list of Energy Star home builders, case studies, and recommendations for new home construction at: http://www.michigan.gov/energyoffice.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2008 INKSTER TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
The City of Inkster will hold its annual holiday tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 3, at 6 p.m. at the City Hall, 26215 Trowbridge Street. Bring your family and friends to enjoy the holiday spirit and welcome Santa Claus to Inkster.
TALK TIME WITH TUPAC: COFFEE HOUR TIMES & LOCATIONS
Detroit Coffee Hour: Every First Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
Mary's Grill, 20804 Plymouth Road
Dearborn Heights Coffee Hour: Every Third Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
McDonald’s, 6412 North Telegraph Road
Inkster Coffee Hour: Every Second Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
McDonald’s, 27125 Cherry Hill Road
You are invited to attend whichever coffee hours work best for your schedule. If you are interested in joining me, please call my office toll-free at 1-866-262-7305 in order to confirm your attendance. Please be sure to leave a message if you call after hours.
